Belt loop-forming and sewing machine



Dec. 6, 1955 L. D. GILLUM ET'AL BELT LOOP-FORMING AND SEWING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 INVENTORS Dec. 6, 1955 L, D. GILLUM ETAL 3 BELT LOOP-FORMING AND SEWING MACHINE Filed Dc. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORS ill Gz'lhzw a zl fz'rfysZzry ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1955 1., D; GILLUM ETAL BELT LOOP-FORMING AND SEWING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec 26, 1951 I INVENTOR5 Z 627222272 dJZA ZIfy-sZZJIZy,

United States Patent Ofifice 2,725,836 Patented Dec. 6, 1955 BELT LOOP-FORMING AND SEWING MACHINE Lawrence D. Gillurn, Carthage, and Charles R, Kingsbury, Lamar, Mo., assignors, by mesne assignments, to said Charles R. Kingsbury Application December 26, 1951, Serial No. 263,414 12 Claims. (Cl. 112--2) This invention relates to a belt loop-forming and sewing machine.

In the manufacture of certain articles of clothing, and more specifically, mens work pants, the belt loops for such garments are formed of strip material purchased in rolls, the material of which is fed to a former to turn the edges inwardly for stitching purposes, after which, the belt loops are cut off to lengths. Garments of this character are sold in a highly competitive field, and the cost of purchasing separate strip material for forming the belt loops is appreciable. It will be appreciated that in the cutting of garments of the character referred to, there is much resultant scrap material which ordinarily is sold at extremely low price to be reprocessed. Much of this scrap material is suitable for the making of belt loops for the garments, but heretofore, it has been impracticable to use scrap material for this purpose. Primarily, the reason for this is that rolls of strip material can be fed continuously, whereas small pieces of scrap can be handled only with difficulty.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a device adapted for use in conjunction with a sewing machine wherein prccut pieces of scrap material suitable for the formation of belt loops may be fed through the device and formed into loop-forming elements.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein individual small pieces of material readily may be fed into the device by hand and moved thereby successively to the sewing position to be sewed by the machine, regardless of the lengths of the relatively small pieces thus fedto the apparatus.

A further object is to provide such a device with a novel feeding and forming mechanism associated therewith and adapted for use in conjunction with the feed dog device of the sewing machine to be operated simultaneously therewith to progressively feed small pieces of material through the former and to the sewing machine to be formed into belt loops.

A further object is to provide such a device which is arranged in advance of the needles and other conventional parts of a sewing machine to receive successive relatively short pieces of material and to control their movement through the device and form them into folded pieces shaped in accordance with belt loop material, and to feed such pieces automatically and continuously to the sewing machine to be stitched along the edges to form belt loops ready for attachment to the garments.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a Figure 2 is a plan view of the feeding and forming device shown in conjunction with a portion of the conventional sewing machine,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device shown detached,

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the feeding and forming device taken longitudinally thereof, parts being shown in elevation,

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a similar view on line 6-6 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a similar view on line 77 of Figure 4,

Figure 8 is a similar View on line 8-8 of Figure 4,

Figure 9 is a detailed perspective view on an enlarged scale showing the main elements of the present device, and

Figure 10 is a perspective view for the device shown in Figure 9.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral 10 designates the body of a sewing machine as a whole having an upper bed it. Over this bed is arranged the usual presser foot 12 and associated elements, needle means 13 comprising the usual pair of needles conveniently employed in a device of this character, and needle-bar 14, the latter of which is reciprocated in the usual and conventional mannet. The bed 11 is slotted as at 15 for the projection upwardly therethrough of a conventional feed dog 16. As will be understood, the feed dog 16 may be operated feeding and forming of a supporting bracket in any well-itnown or conventional manner and the means for accomplishing this result need not be shown in detail. This mechanism, for example, may be of the type shown in the patent to A. J. Wohlpart, No. 1,817,727, granted August 4, 1931.

Generally speaking, the feed dog operating mechanism comprises a bracket 18 mounted on a stationary pivot 19 supported by the body 10 of the sewing machine and carrying a shaft 26 adapted to rock under certain conditions about the axis of the shaft 19. An arm 21 forming a part of the bracket 13 is associated with a cam operating mechanism indicated as a whole by the numeral 22 to effect 'vertical movement of the feed dog 16 through an arm 23. Suitable mechanism (not shown) effects the horizontal components of the feed dog 16, while the cam mechanism 22 effects the vertical component of movement, thus providing the four necessary movements of the feed dog 16, namely, forwardly or to the left as viewed in Figure 1 in the upper position, downwardly, rearwardly and to the right as viewed in Figure l, and then upwardly into engagement with material moving on the bed It). This operation is conventional and well-known in the art. Fixed to the shaft 20 by a set screw 25 is an arm 26, further referred to below, to impart to a second feed dog to be described, a movement corresponding to the movement of the feed dog 16.

The device forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises a body indicated as a whole by the numeral 30. This body has a relatively flat bottom 31 and upwardly extending sides 32 flaring outwardly toward their top edges as shown in Figure 2. The body 30 is formed preferably of sheet steel and the forward edges of the side members 32 curve downwardly as at 33 (Figure l) and then turn inwardly substantially horizontally as at 34 (Figures 5 and 9), such portions of the body forming inturned flanges spaced from the bottom 31 as at 35 for movement of pieces of material there through as described below. The forward extremities of the flanges 34 terminate approximately at the point 36 (Figure 9) andfrom such point forward toward the sewing machine, the bottom of the body 30 extends forwardly as a forming plate 37 slightly arched in crosssection or turned downwardly at its edges as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

At the forward extremity of the body 30 is arranged a former indicated as a whole by the numeral 40. This former, as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 9, has a flat bottom 41 and upwardly and inwardly curved side flanges 42, the forward ends of which have their edges closer together than the rear end portion of such flanges, as shown in Figure 9. The former plate 37, as shown in Figures 4, 6 and 9, is spaced above the bottom 41 and is fixed with respect thereto by a central vertical web or rib 43 welded to the associated elements.

It will be noted that the bottom 41 and flanges 42 of the former unit 40 taper to decrease in width forwardly or toward the sewing machine, and the former plate 37 is similarly tapered and is spaced throughout its length a slight distance from the flanges 42 as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The bottom 41 of the former unit 49 extends rearwardly substantially parallel to the former plate 37, as shown in Figure 4, approximately to the point 45, then curves upwardly and extends rearwardly as at 46 to provide an end preferably welded to the bottom 31. Just forwardly of the point 45, the elements 37 and 41 are connected by a web or bridge 47 similar to the element 43, the member 47 being welded to both of the elements 37 and 41. The latter two elements are slotted as at 48 and 49, respectively, as shown in Figure 4. The slot 49 extends to the rear extremity of the former end 46, while the slot 48 in the bottom of the body 30 extends rearwardly to the point 50 in Figure 4. The slots 48 and 49 are in vertical registration for the movement thereinto and longitudinally thereof of a presser dog referred to below.

At one side of the device just described is arranged a bracket indicated as a whole by the numeral 54 (see Figure 9). This bracket has a horizontal upper portion 55, a downwardly extending portion 56 forwardly of the portion 55, and a lower horizontally extending forward base portion 57 apertured as at 58 for the reception of screws or other fastening elements to attach the bracket to the base 11 of the sewing machine. When the device is in position, the forward extremity of the former unit 40 will be arranged adjacent the rear extremity of the presser foot 12 as shown in Figure l. The edge portion of the bracket base 57 adjacent the forming device is turned upwardly as shown in Figure 6 and indicated by the numeral 60, and such portion of the bracket is welded to the adjacent flange 42. The bracket portion 55 is provided with a pair of integral laterally extending arm portions 62 overlying the forming device and slotted as at 63 for a purpose to be described. Between such arm portions 62, the bracket 54 is provided with a depending integral wall 64 contacting and preferably welded to the adjacent side of the former body 30 as shown in Figure 5. Accordingly, both of the bodies 30 and 40 are welded to the bracket unit 54.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the numeral 66 designates a hold-down plate elongated longitudinally of the forming device and having its rear end 67 turned upwardly at an angle to facilitate the feeding of fabric material therebeneath. The hold-down plate 66 extends forwardly to a point slightly rearward of the forward end of the former 40 as shown in Figure 4. An elongated bracket member 68 is arranged above the hold-down member 66. This bracket 68 has end portions turned downwardly as at 69 and the extremities 70 of such end portions extend inwardly and contact with the hold-down member 66 and are preferably welded thereto. The upper or body portion of the bracket 68 is provided with a pair of apertures intermediate its ends, and when in assembled position, these apertures lie in spaced relation to and above the slots 63 in the bracket arm portions 62. Vertically extending bolts 72 are mounted at their lower ends in the slots 63 preferably by means of pairs of nuts 73 and 74 (Figure at opposite sides of the arms 62. The bolts 72 extend relatively loosely through the respective apertures in the bracket 68, thereby serving to guide the latter, and consequently the hold-down plate 66 as well, in vertical movement. The bracket 68 is urged downwardly relative to the bracket 54, arms 62, and bolts 72 by means of coil springs 78 surrounding the bolts 72 and held in compression between the upper face of the bracket 68 and washers 76 located adjacent the top of each bolt 72 and held in place by means of suitable adjusting and lock nuts 77. It will be apparent that the position of the bracket 68 relative to the body 30 may be adjusted in the lateral sense by means of the nuts 73-74, while the pressure of the hold-down member 66 against the material moving therebeneath may be adjusted by varying the degree of compression of the springs 78 by means of the nuts 77.

Referring to Figures 1 and 10, the numeral 80 designates a supporting bracket as a whole having a vertical forward end 81 apertured as at 82 for the passage of screws 83 (Figure l) for the attachment of the bracket 80 to the adjacent portion of the body 10 of the sewing machine. The bracket 80 further includes a rearwardly extending horizontal portion 84, and a rear vertically extending portion 85 shown in detail in Figure 10. The vertical bracket end 85 is vertically slotted adjacent one edge as at 86 for the passage of the bar 26 therethrough. Centrally of its width, the bracket end 85 is provided with an open-topped slot 87 for a purpose to be described. On opposite sides of the slot 87, the bracket end 85 is apertured as at 88 for the reception of screws 89 (Figure 1) for the attachment of angle brackets 90 shown in solid lines in Figure 1 and in broken lines in Figure 5. The brackets 90 have their top portions welded against the bottom of the rear end of the former 40. The two brackets 90 are spaced apart as shown in Figure 5 for the passage therebetween of the feed dog to be referred to.

The feed dog for the present forming device comprises a vertically arranged relatively long plate having a toothed upper edge 96 adapted in a manner to be described to move upwardly into and longitudinally through the slots 48 and 49. The feed dog 95 is welded or otherwise connected to a carrier plate 97 movable in the slot 87 of the bracket 80. The carrier plate 97 is deeply and widely slotted as at 98 in its lower edge to clear the metal of the bracket arm 85 below the slot 87, as will be apparent. The carrier plate 97 is, accordingly, divided at its lower edge into a pair of depending arms 99 and 100, each of which is slotted as at 101 (Figure l).

The bar 26 is secured by screws or the like 102 to horizontal plates or bars 103 coextensive in length with the respective plate arm portions 99 and 100. These bars 103, in turn, are fixed by screws or the like 104 (Figure 5) to the carrier plate 99, the slots 101 providing for vertical adjustment of the feed dog assembly relative to the rod 26.

As previously stated, the present apparatus is intended for the utilization of scrap material resulting from the cutting of such garments as work pants. Sold as scrap, this material brings very little return to the manufacturer, and it would be far more economical to use such scrap for making belt loops than to purchase the rolled strip material commonly employed for this purpose. In the use of the present apparatus, the scrap material is passed through suitable cutters to be cut in individual loop blanks. These blanks, of course, are in short individual lengths and this is one thing that raises a problem in the feeding of the blanks to a sewing machine to turn over and stitch down the edges to form the belt loop elements ready for attachment to the garments.

The operation of the sewing machine shown in Figure 1 is conventional and need not be described in detail. The feed dog 16 partakes of the four motions referred to, namely, substantially horizontally to the left as viewed in Figure 1 to feed material under the presser foot, thence downwardly, then rearwardly out of engagement with the material, then upwardly back into engagement with the material ready for the next feeding of material past'the needles. The bar 26 is fixed to the shaft 20 and accordingly, partakes of the motion of this shaft, which motion is utilized in the operation of the feed dog 16. The motion of the feed dog 16 is reproduced in the feed dog 95 of the present device, except that due to the longer lever length of the arm 26, the motion in the dog 95 will be somewhat multiplied vertically.

The feed dog 95 has the same four components of movement as the feed dog 16, and is movable upwardly through the slots 48 and 49. Accordingly, material fed through the device in the manner referred to below will be engaged by the feed dog 95 in its upper forward com ponent of movement to be fed through the present device.

The operator will feed the individual pieces of material to the body 30 by sliding them endwise along the bottom 31 and beneath the lip 67 of the hold-down device 66. These pieces must be individually fed, but they may be fed one directly behind the other, so long as they do not overlap. As shown in Figure 4, the slot 49 extends rear wardly approximately to the point 50 and the feed dog 95 engages the material at the rearmost point of the operative component of movement of the feed dog 95 just forwardly or to the left of the rear extremity 50 of the slot 49. Each individual piece of material, accordingly, will be engaged by the feed dog 95 if the leading edge of each piece of material is fed beneath the lip 67, which is the desired operation referred to.

Each piece of material will be progressively fed by the feed dog 95 through the present device, moving from right to left as viewed in Figures 1 and 4. The hold-down member 66 will hold the piece of material in the proper position for engagement with the feed dog 95 to be moved toward the left toward the sewing machine. The former plate 37 forms a part of the bottom 31 of the body 30, and accordingly, the advancing piece of material travels over the former plate 37 as the material approaches the left-hand end of the device. The bottom 41 of the former 40 is arranged beneath the former plate 37 in spaced relation thereto. The former flanges 42 and the bottom 41 taper as shownin Figures 2 and 9. As the material approaches the forming portions of the device, the edges of the material will travel beneath the flanges 34 (Figure 5). As these edges of the material reach the rear extremities of the flanges 42, they will be engaged by such flanges and the edges of the material will be turned downwardly around and ultimately beneath the side edges of the former plate 37. As each piece of material leaves the former body 40, therefore, the longitudinal edges of the material will be folded back beneath the body of the material, and the Width of the opening in the left-hand end of the former 40 will determine the width of the thus formed but not completed belt loop.

The feed dog 95 is relatively long and reaches toward the left to a point in proximity to the left-hand extremity of the former 40, leaving the slot 49 at a point in close proximity to the left-hand extremity thereof. By the time the feed dog 95 feeds each piece of material to the left as far as possible, the advancing edge of such piece of material will have been engaged by the feed dog 16 to be moved under the presser foot 12 and past the sewing machine needle or needles to complete the belt-forming operation. Actually, in accordance with conventional practice in a device of this character, there are two needles 13, only one of which shows in Figure 1, and these needles will stitch along parallel lines to attach the folded-under edge portions of each belt loop to the body thereof. Thus, the belt loops will be completed by the sewing machine ready for attachment to the garments.

The slot 98 (Figure l) is of sufficient length and depth to clear the metal of the bracket 80 (Figure beneath the slot 87, as will be apparent. The screws 104 in Figure 5 permit vertical adjustment of the feed dog 95 relative to the bar 26 for proper engagement of such feed dog with the strips of material being fed through the apparatus. The angle brackets 90, shown in Figure 1, and shown in broken lines in Figure 5, are duplicated and spaced from each other to provide proper space for the operation of the feed dog 95 through the slot 49. .Tension of the hold-down member 66 against the strip of material to hold the latter in engagement with the feed dog 95 may be adjusted by screwing the nuts 77 (Figure 5) upwardly or downwardly, as will be apparent. The body of the present device is supported by connection with the main supporting bracket 80 through the angle brackets and through the attachment of the plate portion 57 (Figure 9) to the bed of the sewing machine by fastening elements passing through the openings '58 (not shown).

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present apparatus eliminates the more expensive procedure of using rolled strip material to be fed through a conventional former to a sewing machine to form belt loops for garments. Scrap material which otherwise would be sold at an extremely low price is utilized for the making of the belt loops, and this saving is appreciable when applied to the total cost of making garments such as work pants.

We claim:

1. A forming and feeding device for sewing machines having needle means and feed dog means for feeding material past said needle means, said device comprising an elongated body having an entering end into which material is fed and a feeding end from which the material is fed, said elongated body having an opening therethrough intermediate its entering end and its feeding end, said opening being adapted toreceive a feed dog from beneath said body, and a forming device including a fold guide, at the feeding end of said body, arranged therebeneath in spaced relation thereto and cooperating therewith to turnover opposite edges of a strip of material fed through the device.

2. A forming and feeding device for sewing machines comprising an elongated body having a bottom provided with an elongated slot, said body havingan entering end into which material is fed. and a feeding end from which the material is fed, said opening being adapted to receive a feed dog or the like from beneath said body, said bottom at the feeding end of said body tapering to decrease in width toward such end, and a forming device having a bottom lying beneath said tapered end in spaced relation thereto and provided with side flanges extending around and over said tapered end in spaced relation thereto, said flanges converging toward said feeding end whereby strips of material fed over said bottom and over said tapered end thereof will have their edges turned downwardly and under the body of the strip of material as the latter passes over said tapered end.

3. A forming and feeding device for sewing machines comprising an elongated body having a bottom provided with an elongated slot, said body having an entering end into which material is fed and a feeding end from which the material is fed, said opening being adapted to receive a feed dog or the like from beneath said body, said bottom at the feeding end of said body tapering to decrease in width toward such end, and a forming device havinga bottom lying beneath said tapered end in spaced relation.

thereto and provided with side flanges extending around and over said tapered end in spaced relation-thereto, said flanges converging toward said feeding end whereby strips of material fed over said bottom and over said tapered end thereof will have their edges turned downwardly and under the body of the strip of material as the latter passes over said tapered end, the bottom of said forming device extending substantially away from said feeding end and being provided with a slot coinciding with the slot in the bottom of said body, said slots extending relatively close to the extremity of the device at said feeding end andsaid feed dog operating through said slots substantially to the limit thereof adjacent to said feeding end whereby relatively short strips of material will be engaged by said dog while the advancing edges of said strips are being discharged from said feeding end.

4. A forming and feeding device for sewing machines comprising an elongated body having a bottom provided with an elongated slot, said body having an entering end into which material is fed and a feeding end from which the material is fed, said opening being adapted to receive a feed dog or the like from beneath said body, said bottom at the feeding end of said body tapering to decrease in width toward such end, a forming device having a bottom lying beneath said tapered end in spaced relation thereto and provided with side flanges extending around and over said tapered end in spaced relation thereto, said flanges converging toward said feeding end whereby strips of material fed oversaid bottom and over said tapered end thereof will have their edges turned downwardly and under the body of the strip of material as the latter passes over said tapered end, and a spring pressed hold-down plate extending longitudinally of the bottom of said body to a point in close proximity to the extremity of said feed: ing end whereby strips of material fed over said bottom will be engaged by said hold-down plate substantially to the extremity of said feeding end.

5. A forming and feeding device for sewing machines comprising an elongated body having a bottom provided with an elongated slot, said body having an entering end into which material is fed and a feeding end from which the material is fed, said opening being adapted to receive a feed dog or the like from beneath said body, said bottom at the feeding end of said body tapering to decrease in width toward such end, a forming device having a bottom lying beneath said tapered end in spaced relation thereto and provided with side flanges extending around and over said tapered end in spaced relation thereto, said flanges converging toward said feeding end whereby strips of material fed over said bottom and over said tapered end thereof will have their edges turned downwardly and under the body of the strip of material as the latter passes over said tapered end, a spring pressed hold-down plate extending longitudinally of the bottom of said body to a point in close proximity to the extremity of said feeding end whereby strips of material fed over said bottom will be engaged by said hold-down plate substantially to the extremity of said feeding end, a frame having a horizontal portion extending longitudinally of and spaced above said holddown plate, the ends of said frame extending downwardly and being connected to said hold-down plate, stationary members arranged beneath the horizontal portion of said frame, and spring means acting between each stationary member and the horizontal portion of said frame to resiliently urge said hold-down plate downwardly into engagement with material passing therebeneath.

6. A forming and feeding device for sewing machines comprising an elongated body having a bottom provided with an elongated slot, said body having an entering end into which material is fed and a feeding end from which the material is fed, said opening being adapted to receive a feed dog or the like from beneath said body, said bottom at the feeding end of said body tapering to decrease in width toward such end, a forming device having a bottom lying beneath said tapered end in spaced relation thereto and provided with side flanges extending around and over said tapered end in spaced relation thereto, said flanges converging toward said feeding end whereby strips of material fed over said bottom and over said tapered end thereof will have their edges turned downwardly and under the body of the strip of material as the latter passes over said tapered end, the bottom of said forming device extending substantially away from said feeding end and being provided with a slot coinciding with the slot in the bottom of said body, said slots extending relatively close to the extremity of the device at said feeding end and said feed dog operating through said slots substantially to the limit thereof adjacent to said feeding end whereby relatively short strips of material will be engaged by said dog while the advancing edges of said strips are being discharged from said feeding end, a longitudinal hold-down plate extending throughout the greater portion of the length of the bottom of said body, the end of said holddown plate adjacent said feeding end extending toward such end beyond the adjacent extremities of said slots, a substantially inverted U-shaped frame having depending ends connected to said hold-down plate and an elongated horizontal member extending longitudinally of and spaced above said hold-down plate, a stationary plate laterally offset from said body, a pair of cars carried by said stationary plate and projecting between said hold-down plate and said horizontal portion of said frame, said ears being substantially spaced from each other, and a spring device mounted between each ear and said horizontal member to urge the latter downwardly together with said hold-down plate.

7. A forming and feeding device for sewing machines comprising an elongated body having a bottom provided with an elongated slot, said body having an entering end into which material is fed and a feeding end from which the material is fed, said opening being adapted to receive a feed dog or the like from beneath said body, a forming device at the feeding end of said body arranged therebeneath in spaced relation thereto and cooperating there with to turn over opposite edges of a strip of material fed through the device, a stationary supporting bracket for said body, said bracket having an upstanding end extending transversely of said body and connected at its upper end thereto, said upstanding end being vertically slotted, an operating plate for said feed dog extending longitudinally thereof and depending therefrom, said operating plate being movable in said slot, and an operating bar connected to said operating plate to impart movement to said feed dog.

8. A forming and feeding device for sewingmachines comprising an elongated body having a bottom provided with an elongated slot, said body having an entering end into which material is fed and a the material is fed, said opening being adapted to receive a feed dog or the like from beneath said body, a forming device at the feeding end of said body arranged therebeneath in spaced relation thereto and cooperating therewith to turn over opposite edges of a strip of material fed through the device, a stationary supporting bracket for said body, said bracket having an upstanding end extending transversely of said body and connected at its upper end thereto, said upstanding end being vertically slotted, an operating plate for said feed dog extending longitudinally thereof and depending therefrom, said operating plate being movable in said slot, an operating bar for said feed dog, means for effecting movement of said operating bar in a predetermined path, and means for vertically adjustably connecting said bar to said operating plate to transmit movement of said bar to said feed dog.

9. In combination with a sewing machine having needle means, feed dog means for feeding material past said needle means, and operating means for said feed dog means comprising an element connected thereto to impart four-way movement to said feed dog, a forming and feeding device comprising a body having a bottom elongated in the direction of movement imparted to material by said feed dog means and extending in advance of said needle means, said body having an entering end and a feeding end the latter of which is arranged adjacent said needle means, the feeding end of said bottom tapering to decrease in width toward said needle means, a forming device comprising a bottom wall arranged beneath the bottom of said body adjacent said needle means, said bottom wall having side flanges turning upwardly around and inwardly over the edges of the tapered portion of the bottom of said body in spaced relation thereto whereby a feeding end from which strip of material fed over said tapering end will have its edges turned downwardly and under the body of the strip of material, the bottom of said body having an elongated slot extending in proximity to the extremity of said tapered end of the bottom of said body, an elongated feed dog operable in said slot from beneath the bottom of said body, and means connecting said feed dog to said element of said operating means to be operated thereby simultaneously with the feed dog means of the sewing machine.

10. In combination with a sewing machine having needle means, feed dog means for feeding material past said needle means, and operating means for said feed dog means comprising an element connected thereto to impart four-way movement to said feed dog, a forming and feeding device comprising a body having a bottom elongated in the direction of movement imparted to material by said feed dog means and extending in advance of said needle means, said body having an entering end and a feeding end the latter of which is arranged adjacent said needle means, the feeding end of said bottom tapering to decrease in width toward said needle means, a forming device comprising a bottom wall arranged beneath the bottom of said body adjacent said needle means, said bottom wall having side flanges turning upwardly around and inwardly over the edges of the tapered portion of the bottom of said body in spaced relation thereto whereby a strip of material fed over said tapering end will have its edges turned downwardly and under the body of the strip of material, the bottom of said body having an elongated slot extending in proximity to the extremity of said tapered end of the bottom of said body, an elongated feed dog operable in said slot from beneath the bottom of said body, means connecting said feed dog to said element of said operating means to be operated thereby simultaneously with the feed dog means of the sewing machine, an elongated hold-down plate extending longitudinally of said body, said hold-down plate being arranged in proximity to said bottom of said body and extending toward the feeding end of said bottom at least to the associated end of the slot therein, stationary elements arranged above said hold-down plate and spaced from each other therealong, and spring means operating between said stationary elements and said hold-down plate to urge the latter resiliently downwardly to hold material passing under said hold-down plate in engagement with said elongated feed dog.

11. In combination with a sewing machine having a frame, needle means, feed dog means for feeding material past said needle means and operating means for said feed dog means comprising an element connected thereto to impart four-way movement to said fed dog, a forming and feeding device comprising a body having a bottom elongated in the direction of movement imparted to material by said feed dog means and extending in advance of said needle means, said body having an entering end and a feeding end, the latter of which is arranged adjacent to said needle means, the feeding end of said bottom tapering to decrease in width toward said needle means, a forming device comprising a bottom wall, arranged beneath the bottom of said body, adjacent said needle means, said bottom wall having side flanges turning upwardly around and inwardly over the edges of the tapered portion of the bottom of said body in spaced relation thereto whereby a strip of material fed over said tapering end will have its edges turned downwardly and under the body of the strip of material, the bottom of said body having an elongated slot extending in proximity to the extremity of said tapered end of the botttom of said body, an elongated feed dog operable in said slot from beneath the bottom of said body, means connecting said feed dog to said element of said operating means to be operated thereby simultaneously with the feed dog means of the sewing machine, an elongated hold-down plate extending longitudinally of said body, said hold-down plate being arranged in proximity to said bottom of said body and extending toward the feeding end of said bottom at least to the associated end of the slot therein, stationary elements arranged above said hold-down plate and spaced from each other therealong, spring means operating between said stationary elements and said hold-down plate to urge the latter resiliently downwardly to hold material passing under said hold-down plate in engagement with said elongated feed dog, a supporting bracket fixed to said frame and having an upstanding end extending transversely of said body beneath and fixed with respect thereto, said upstanding end having a vertical slot through which extends said means for connecting said feed dog to said element of said operating means.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11, including a vertical plate arranged beneath and fixed to said elongated feed dog and extending longitudinally thereof, said upstanding end of the supporting bracket being vertically slotted in its upper end to receive said vertical plate, and said means for connecting said dog to said element of said operating means comprising a bar connected at one end to such element and at its opposite end to said vertical plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 973,530 McKane Oct. 25, 1910 1,135,691 Hinderer Apr. 13, 1915 1,274,162 Heap July 30, 1918 1,275,694 Hughes Aug. 13, 1918 1,422,176 Chalman July 11, 1922 1,828,966 Halberg et al Oct. 27, 1931 2,262,547 Galkin Nov. 11, 1941 2,585,306 Galkin Feb. 12, 1952 2,585,307 Galkin Feb. 12, 1952 

